New Scientist


New Scientist recommends Anish Kapoor’s show at the Hayward Gallery

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 09:43:11 +0000

Viscera, voids and light-gobbling Vantablack conspire to disturb and amaze in Anish Kapoor’s new exhibition, which has heavy nods to the nature of reality, science and religion


Orcas filmed making sunfish explode by ramming them at high speed

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 04:00:00 +0000

Orcas have been seen smashing into sharp-tail sunfish so hard that the fish bursts into thousands of fragments, perhaps as a form of play as well as food processing


More than a gut feeling

Thu, 23 Jul 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Long overlooked, the connection between our gut microbes and brain is yielding new insights into mental health


Why open-source software can be both good and bad

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Software that is free to use creates many opportunities – not all of which are good


This twisty sci-fi thriller is a fantastic debut from Isabel J. Kim

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Sublimation, in which a person can split into two when crossing an international border, is tip-top stuff. Don't miss it, says science-fiction columnist Emily H. Wilson


Sunshine can help with some serious health problems, argues a new book

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:00:00 +0000

While Europe’s heatwave makes us run for shade, the intriguing In Defense of Sunlight reveals sunlight’s health-giving effects – in moderation, says David Robson


Twisteddoodles on children’s flexible ears

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:00:00 +0000

This week's cartoon from Twisteddoodles


Tom Gauld on artificial cells

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Tom Gauld's weekly cartoon


Why do fictional geologists keep getting killed off in movies?

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:00:00 +0000

Feedback is surprised to learn that geology is a particularly deadly speciality to pick if you're a fictional character, with a new study revealing an "alarming rate" of mortality for geologists in films


This week’s new questions

Wed, 22 Jul 2026 17:00:00 +0000

What is the optimal way to ice a cocktail: fewer big cubes or lots of small ones? And what is the smallest creature that needs to sleep, and what does this tell us about the nature of and need for sleep itself?